Oral history interview with William Wells conducted by David Emerson on May 22, 2006 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. In this interview, William Wells, the first dean of engineering at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1986 to join UNLV. He also describes building the engineering departments, obtaining accreditation, recruiting, salaries, and faculty turnover. He then talks about diversity in the department, the successes of UNLV engineering graduates, and attracting minority groups to engineering.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with J. K. Russ conducted by Claytee D. White on December 22, 2017 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Russ discusses her early life in New Zealand and growing up on a tobacco farm. She remembers arriving to the United States and establishing a career as an artist. Russ talks about the 1 October shooting, creating an art exhibit using cards and letters received from people all over the world, and Las Vegas’ response to the tragedy. Lastly, Russ describes the art community in Las Vegas and the Arts District.
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Oral history interview with Chris Phipps conducted by Dennis McBride on November 16, 1998 for the Las Vegas Gay Archives Oral History Project. Phipps talks about coming to terms being a gay man in California, being involved with the Apollo Spa and Health center, and becoming a lawyer.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Ruby Amie Pilot, Eva G. Simmons, Melvin Sanders, Jarmilla McMillan-Arnold, Hannah Brown, Sonny Thomas, and Claytee White conducted by Vegas PBS on April 01, 2013, April 02, 2013, April 12, 2013, and November 19, 2013 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In these interviews, the participants discuss their early lives and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada. Pilot talks about segregation on the Las Vegas Strip, integration, and the importance of church activities in the African American community. Simmons describes her career as a teacher, the schools on the Westside, and businesses on Jackson Street. Thomas describes the funeral industry and his role as a funeral director. McMillan-Arnold talks about segregated Las Vegas, African American entertainers, and the issue of homelessness on the Westside. Brown remembers growing up on the Westside, segregated schools, and her role as President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women – Las Vegas chapter. Lastly, Sanders discusses his childhood in Las Vegas, being the son of a preacher, and the redevelopment of the Westside.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mark Brandenburg conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on September 22, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Brandenburg discusses his upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada. He talks about his stepfather’s involvement with the opening of the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino, becoming a co-owner of the property in 1990, and joining other downtown properties to form the Fremont Street Experience. Brandenburg describes the challenges in competing with mega-resorts on the Strip, modernizing the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino, and weaving the history of the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino with that of the more recent Fremont Street Experience. Lastly, Brandenburg discusses the monetization of the street, and the future of the Fremont Street Experience.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Guy Hamblin conducted by Barry Merrell on February 22, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Hamblin discusses moving from different towns in Nevada before settling down in Southern Nevada, viewing the above-ground atomic bomb tests, early Fremont Street, and his work on the railroad. Hamblin also discusses the demographic and economic changes that he has seen in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Marge Jacques conducted by Dennis McBride on November 19, 1998 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Jacques discusses her friendship with the former Governor of Nevada Grant Sawyer. She talks about LGBTQ supporting policies that Sawyer contributed in, and his involvement with the progress of LGBTQ civil rights in Nevada. Lastly, Jacques describes Grant's social obligations during his time in office.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Henry Shepherd conducted by Claytee D. White on October 22, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Shepherd discusses being an African-American bartender on the Las Vegas, Nevada Strip, hired as a result of the 1971 consent decree. He also recalls memories of Jackson Street, the homes in North Las Vegas, and the hotels in downtown Las Vegas and on the Strip.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Rodney Sumpter conducted by Dennis McBride on August 30, 1999 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Sumpter discusses his involvement with repealing one of Nevada’s sodomy laws (NRS 201.190) in 1985. He recalls going to the Nevada State Supreme Court and discusses similar cases involving sodomy laws in the United States.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Esther Langston conducted by Claytee D. White on February 22, 2005 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. In this interview, Langston provides an overview of her early life and career in social work. She describes how the women in her family are positive and empowering role models. Langston moves on to explain how she become a social worker over a period of many years. She states that a job experience that helped her gain the qualifications of a social worker was working as an office manager at the Nevada Test Site. She also mentions how she has had to work with conflicts such as racial inequalities.
Archival Collection